Monday, April 24, 2006

StarMetro Mail, April 24, 2006 on compulsory vet care

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Central
Monday April 24, 2006


Ensure adequate vets before enforcing rule

The Housing and Local Government Ministry is reported to be considering making it a must for dog owners to have their pet dogs undergo veterinary checks each year before they can renew their licences.

There is no doubt that the need for health checks are vital.

In fact, health checks shouldn’t only be for dogs but for cats as well.

But the answer is not as simplistic as one might be tempted to think.

The problem is when it is made mandatory.

It raises a host of serious and unanswered questions such as:


Are there sufficient vet services in the country for such an undertaking? Are they nearby or accessible to pet owners? Is it fair to impose further burdens on pet owners which will only affect responsible pet owners?

What about pet owners who have no transport to ferry their animals to the vet? Should they be barred from having dogs? Will it be okay then for us to cart our dogs in the bus or taxi in such situations? Or should one with dogs decide to abandon their animals for fear of the law? What about those who use motorcycles? Should they totally forget the idea about getting a dog?

What about dogs that are difficult to manage and don’t leave the owners’ premises?

What about unethical vets who because of poor business or whatever, try and exploit the situation by prescribing unnecessary treatments to the doting pet owner?

Will a mandatory health check motivate irresponsible pet owners to care more for their dogs now that they are being “forced” to? Or will it alienate them further and make them refuse to get licence for their pets?
In the end, an arbitrary health check law will only hurt good dog owners who make it a habit to bring in their dogs several times a year.

The answer, therefore, lies not in legislation but in education of pet owners.



EDUCATED DOG,

Petaling Jaya.











Source:




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